APRIL 18, 2018 “Research is a ceremony. And so is life. Everything that we do shares in the ongoing creation of our universe.”
—SHAWN WILSON DR. VALERIE HENITIUK VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC & PROVOST
WELCOME FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC & PROVOST
In my capacity as Provost here at Concordia ranging from travel to wellness to a focus University of Edmonton (CUE), I have the on women; a brand-new cluster on artificial privilege of serving also as Vice-President intelligence was formed just this year. Research. Despite the heavy administrative CUE held its first biannual celebration focus of these roles, research remains an of authorship last fall, highlighting a integral part of who I am as a member of fascinating range of book publications. this academic community. Accordingly, I Both faculty and students have presented am delighted to welcome all colleagues at major conferences worldwide, and visitors to this Research Forum, which disseminating knowledge and building allows CUE to highlight the diverse and networks. And faculty members have cutting-edge work being done by both recently been successful in competitions faculty and students across our campus. with both SSHRC and NSERC. This is the third year that we have held As we prepare for the imminent opening a comprehensive research celebration, of the CSRI, CUE can look with pride at underscoring a rapidly evolving research the high-calibre work being presented culture. CUE’s first research-focussed at this Research Forum. Our students, building, the Centre for Science, Research whether graduate or undergraduate, and Innovation will open this summer, are offered unparalleled opportunities located high atop Edmonton’s spectacular to work closely alongside faculty on river valley. Our Centre for Innovation and ground-breaking research, as well as on Applied Research, which links research to projects of their own. It is truly an exciting community and industry, will be housed in time to be involved with research on our the CSRI, as will a brand-new Indigenous lively campus, which is well on its way to Knowledge and Research Centre. becoming Canada’s pre-eminent small university. CUE is home to the Canadian Centre for Scholarship and the Christian Faith, which In closing, I would like to extend my runs an annual conference, along with a warmest congratulations to all presenters at Centre for Chinese Studies. This university this exciting annual event. boasts thriving research clusters on topics
3 DR. COLIN NEUFELDT ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT ACADEMIC & DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
WELCOME FROM THE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Best Wishes to All Participants in the I know that the 2018 CUE Research 2018 Research Forum! Forum will prove to be an enriching experience for all participants, and I wish On behalf of the Faculty of Graduate each of you every success in this very Studies at Concordia University of important celebration of Concordia’s Edmonton (CUE), I want to extend a warm research accomplishments. welcome to all the participants in the 2018 CUE Research Forum. The Research Forum gives students, faculty and staff an opportunity to highlight their research, learn about the accomplishments of colleagues, participate in stimulating academic discussions, and foster future research opportunities that will contribute to the intellectual life at CUE.
4 WELCOME FROM THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES LAINNA ELJABI, RESEARCH OFFICER
The Office of Research Services is • Communicating major grant program thrilled to be a part of the exciting information and liaising with and innovative research being done funding agencies, sponsors, at CUE. By providing services and and stakeholders support to faculty and students, we • Managing CUE Internal Research foster and facilitate a vibrant research Grant programs culture at the university. The Office of Research Services is committed to • Presenting workshops and fostering research excellence through information sessions on funding the following: programs, grant writing, and developing successful • Providing guidance and assistance research proposals to faculty researchers at all stages of research grant application and • Developing research infrastructure proposal development, providing and policy that promote a strong information on funding opportunities research culture at CUE. and research funding agencies • Supporting the work of • Providing guidance on the use multidisciplinary research clusters of grant funds and ensuring that enable groups of investigators to compliance to sponsor and draw upon the strength and agency policies expertise of various disciplines • Facilitating collaborative • Promoting research activity and and interdisciplinary achievement, including events such research partnerships as the annual Research Forum Poster Exhibition
5 DR. NEIL QUERENGESSER DEAN, FACULTY OF ARTS
WELCOME FROM THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS
The Faculty of Arts is strengthened community. Concordia’s Institute of by research initiatives of faculty and Christian Studies and Society hosts students alike across all of its programs. research presentations throughout the These programs include Biblical and year on timely and thought-provoking Christian Studies, Drama, English, French, topics. But we are proudest of the many History, Music, Philosophy, Political students in Concordia’s Arts programs Economy, Psychology, Religious Studies, who also make significant research and Sociology. Many faculty complete contributions, including those whose individual projects such as books, or work is displayed here today. Students articles published in internationally in graduate Psychological Assessment recognized journals. These publications programs and the undergraduate Applied are often preceded or accompanied Psychology program complete a variety by related papers presented at major of practical research projects. Students conferences. Research also happens in our Masters of Arts in Biblical and through faculty members cooperating on Christian Studies program engage applied or community-based initiatives in significant research through their involving practical data collecting, course work and theses that can lead to surveys, and the like. Faculty in the Fine publication. And students in many other Arts spend countless hours researching Arts programs are likewise being trained their respective fields to create the finest in the best and most effective methods musical and dramatic productions. Many of research in their areas of study. As professors also are members of faculty- the Dean of Arts I am very pleased to initiated research clusters meeting endorse the research presented at regularly to share their latest work today’s event as well as all the other with other members of the Concordia ongoing research in our Faculty.
6 DR. INHEE C. BERG ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
THE GOSPEL TRADITIONS INFERRING TO JESUS’ PROPER BURIAL THROUGH THE DEPICTIONS OF FEMALE FUNERARY KINSHIP ROLES
The early Christians believed that Jesus and implicit in the Gospels’ descriptions was buried according to Jewish customs. of these women’s actions and intents, However, the question regarding these women fill the noticeable void of the nature of Jesus’ burial remains the immediate family of Jesus and fulfill contestable and this leads our attention the familiar roles required in the rites of once again to the textual information of the passage. the Gospel traditions dealing with Jesus’ death and burial scenes. As the Gospels uniformly disclose that Jesus is the embodiment of the divine Covenant, the authors must have been obliged to draw the picture of Jesus’ burial in association to propriety rather than impropriety and honor rather than dishonor since dishonorable burial was the lot only for those who violated God’s Covenant through their disobedience. For this, the Synoptic Gospels, particularly, feature women in the kernel accounts of Jesus’ Passion as the intimate providers of essential funeral services necessary to mark Jesus’ burial as being ritualistically acceptable. Although it seems laconic
7 BRONTE DIDUCK STUDENT, PSYCHOLOGY
DR. YVONNE WONG SESSIONAL INSTRUCTOR, PSYCHOLOGY
EFFECTS OF SEX AND SPORT PARTICIPATION ON MENTAL ROTATION AND MENTAL IMAGERY ABILITY
A well-established male advantage is choice MR. This supports the notion found in mental rotation (MR) ability, that (1) pairwise and multiple choice however, it remains unclear whether questions have different task demands sex differences are influenced by (working memory, eye movement) biological or environmental factors. and may implicate different cognitive This research examines the effects of processes that produce sex differences, sport participation on MR ability and (2) in females, environmental factors movement imagery (MI) ability in male such as sport participation positively and female athletes and non-athletes. To impact cognitive processes implicated measure MR ability, three-dimensional in MR multiple choice ability. Given cube figures were presented as either that athletes demonstrated greater pairwise or multiple choice questions. MR and MI ability, and that MR and MI Participants determined if the figure(s) are fundamentally relevant for STEM were either rotated or mirror images of disciplines, elucidating the relationship a target figure. MI ability was measured between sport participation, sex, and using an established objective test of MR and MI ability could help improve movement ability (TAMI). As predicted, educational standards and understand athletes outperformed non-athletes on the sex disparities in the STEM field. all measures, and males demonstrated greater multiple choice MR ability. Research Advisor: Dr. Yvonne Wong Interestingly, pairwise MR produced no sex differences. When only athlete scores were included, no sex difference was found in multiple choice MR ability, demonstrating that sport participation mediates female performance on multiple
8 DR. TRAVIS DUMSDAY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
ALEXANDER OF HALES ON PANENTHEISM
Panentheism is among the most I also assess the enduring value of his influential variations on classical critique, arguing that it helps bring to the theism found within nineteenth and fore the importance of panentheism’s link twentieth century theology, a prominent with a further metaphysical debate: that perspective in the recent religion and between spacetime relationism versus science dialogue (especially in the substantivalism. literature on quantum physics and special divine action), and is increasing in prominence within analytic philosophy of religion. Existing works on the history of panentheism understandably focus primarily on proponents of the view (in its different versions) and their arguments in its favour. Less attention has been given to the history of arguments against it, and in particular little has been written on mediaeval Scholastic critiques. Here I summarize the criticisms levelled by an important (but under-studied) thirteenth- century Franciscan, Alexander of Hales.
9 TIA GALARNEAU STUDENT , PSYCHOLOGY
ELIZABETH KUENZEL STUDENT , PSYCHOLOGY
DR. BRYAN ROONEY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR , PSYCHOLOGY
THE EFFECT OF BODY LANGUAGE AND TONE ON LEARNING
It is widely held that dynamic, at Concordia University of Edmonton. expressive presenters are more The students who viewed the high tone effective in teachers. This experimental and open body language presenter study examines the influence nonverbal score significantly higher on the test (M cues, such as tone and body language, = 5.66, SD = 1.15, N = 29) than those who have on learning new material. We watched the low-tone and closed-body examined this by showing participants language presenter (M = 4.66, SD = 1.51, one of two instructional videos on a N = 38), t(65) = 2.83, p = .003. These topic that was unlikely one they had results indicate that the manipulation of a previously studied, the operation presenter’s tone and body language can of fluorescent lights. Immediately influence the information recalled by a following the video, they were given class. This experiment demonstrates that an 8-item multiple choice test. In one a presenter using high tone and an open video the speaker displayed high tone body language can enhance instructional (expressive tone, consistent volume, effectiveness. interested facial expression) and open body language (iconic gestures, Research Advisor: Dr. Bryan Rooney upright sitting position, arms at side), whereas in the second video the speaker displayed low tone (monotone, inconsistent volume, disinterested facial expression) and closed body language (no gestures, slouching, arms crossed, self-touching). Participants included 67 university students who were recruited from an Introductory Psychology class
10 JHALAK KHURMA STUDENT, SOCIOLOGY
OPINIONS TOWARDS THE PAROLE SYSTEM
This study will examine a causal model Age and Ethnicity were the only two to determine the opinions surrounding concepts that a direct role in influencing the parole system (OPPAROLE). Using the OPPAROLE concept. However, the Statistics Canada 2011 General Social while four out of five variables were Survey Cycle 23, which consisted of a positively able to influence OPPAROLE, sampling frame of 19,422 respondents, a Global Attitudes, attitudes about the secondary data analysis was conducted justice system in general, proved to be through the use of five exogenous the strongest intervening variable to and five intervening concepts. It was influence OPPAROLE. found through the research Sex, SES, and Location all played an indirect role Research Advisor: in influencing the endogenous. The Dr. John Jayachandran variables the five exogenous variables were able to influence OPPAROLE were Global Attitudes, Victimization, Level of Fear, and Security Measures. It was clear that Experience was the least effective in creating an influence on OPPAROLE.
11 BETHANY MCMILLAN STUDENT, HISTORY
UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN THE THIRD REICH: THE BUND DEUTSCHER MÄDEL
Nazi Germany’s Bund Deutscher Mädel in athletics, and adventure, all while was the German Girls’ League within cultivating a sense of belonging for the the Hitler Youth program. The BDM was young women of Germany. I plan to created in order to prepare the future demonstrate this through the first hand generations of the Volksgemeinschaft. accounts of BDM members. Political indoctrination was a key component to the organization, yet Research Advisor: Dr. Tolly Bradford it offered much more. This essay discusses how the program provided unprecedented opportunities for young women. Former members share a range of responses to the political elements suffused within the BDM. The League was as a moment of liberation for young women. The BDM provided opportunities
12 MADISON PERKINS STUDENT, HISTORY
TRENDS OF BLAME IN THE MINDS OF “KOREAN COMFORT WOMEN”
During the Second Sino-Japanese War “comfort women”: (1) The women blame (1937-45) a sexual gratification the Japanese and Korean program was proposed by Japanese recruiters/kidnappers responsible for officials in order to reduce the their procurement; (2) Korean stress of the Emperor’s warriors, deter survivors blame the Imperial Japanese the soldiers from raping women Army and Japanese in areas the Imperial Japanese Army had government; (3) A minority of women captured, boost the morale of blame Korea for being too weak the soldiers, and prevent venereal to stop Japan from taking Korea’s disease. The implementation of this daughters. system forced many Asian women, 80% of whom were Korean, to Research Advisor: Dr. Tolly Bradford become sexual slaves, or as they were commonly known, “comfort women”. This paper will not be an examination of the historical events that occurred, but instead will focus on the memory of the women and their contemporary feelings about who holds responsibility for their suffering. Drawing on interviews of surviving Korean “comfort women”, conducted from the early 1990s-late 2000s, it will argue that three patterns of blame emerge from the testimony of the former Korean
13 SHAYLA ROLPH STUDENT , PSYCHOLOGY
BROOKE WINTER STUDENT , PSYCHOLOGY
DR. BRYAN ROONEY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR , PSYCHOLOGY
ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS AND SELF-ESTEEM
Do those who are in a romantic a low score of 0 to a maximum score of relationship have higher self-esteem 30. We found that students who were in than those who are not in a relationship? a romantic relationship had a self-esteem We surveyed 70 university students score (M = 20.22, SD = 5.28) that was from Concordia University of Edmonton significantly higher than those who were to answer this question. Our hypothesis not in a romantic relationship (M = 14.43, was that individuals in a romantic SD = 6.41), t(68) = 2.00, p = .0247. These relationship have higher self-esteem results support the findings of previous than those not in a relationship. research on how romantic relationships Respondents completed an online and self-esteem affect one another. From questionnaire where they identified if this non-experimental study, we can they were in a romantic relationship and not conclude that being in a romantic then completed the Rosenberg Self- relationship increases one’s self-esteem, Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). This but we can report that there is a positive 10-item scale assesses self esteem with relationship. Research Advisor: Dr. Bryan Rooney
14 KRISTINA STOCKS STUDENT, ENGLISH
TED TALKS & GRADUATION ADDRESSES: INSPIRATIONAL MEDIA
This independent study analyzes the Discussion will focus on the effect that cultural value of contemporary TED Talks TED Talks have on those who watch them and convocation addresses. TED Talks (via interviews), and what makes them go are designed to influence and inspire viral. In addition, the study will compare a specific audience, and this study will how speakers negotiate such sensitive examines the methodology, rhetoric, topics as ideology, class structure, and techniques of such public discourse. nationalism, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and age. Research Advisor: Dr. Conrad van Dyk
15 DR. JONATHAN STRAND PROFESSOR, PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
ANIMISM AND CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
Indigenous cultures around the globe This will reveal that, in light of the best have often exhibited perspectives which insights of contemporary Philosophy of have been called ‘animistic.’ Mind, animistic perspectives are not as ‘Animism’ is defined as “The attribution implausible as many might think. of life and personality (and sometimes Reference will also be made to the a soul) to inanimate objects and natural adoption of such perspectives among phenomena.” (OED) contemporary environmentalists. The thesis of this presentation is that such perspectives and attributions are not as implausible as many in western (European-based) culture might assume, from the standpoint of the best, current (European-based) Philosophy of Mind. The origins and history of western Philosophy of Mind will be surveyed— going back to the ancient Greeks (Plato and Aristotle) and the early modern philosophers (Descartes, Leibniz, Locke). The best current thinking in Philosophy of Mind will then be discussed vis-a-vis animistic perspectives.
16 DR. CONRAD VAN DYK ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ENGLISH
THE NATURE OF WRITING: AN OPEN ACCESS WRITING GUIDE
I will be presenting the open access For more information about this project, writing guide I have been working on please see http://natureofwriting.com/ for the past two years. The Nature of about/. This work has been funded by Writing (www.natureofwriting.com) is means of internal research grants and a comprehensive writing manual for I am working in corporation with the students in high school and university. Concordia Institute for Applied Research It combines videos, prose explanations, (CIAR). My poster will consist of an and countless exercises in order to interactive computer screen where enhance the teaching of English across participants can try out the website for the curriculum. themselves.
17 DR. ALISON YACYSHYN DEAN , MIHALCHEON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
WELCOME FROM THE DEAN OF THE MIHALCHEON SCHOOL OF MANAGMENT
As Dean of the Faculty of Management, in internationally recognized journals and I am proud of the research produced this is commendable. by both students and Faculty at the 3rd Faculty members who have Annual Research Forum. collaborations with individuals from other Research is a priority for the Faculty institutions demonstrate that collegiate of Management and the opportunity research builds bridges nationally and to share works in progress, or studies internationally. Student presenters are already completed, demonstrates the welcomed to the event and commended commitment to research at Concordia for sharing their research with others. University of Edmonton. Collaborations Congratulations to all who have with undergraduate and/or graduate participated in CUE’s 3rd Annual students with Faculty also Research Forum and may the day’s event demonstrates synergy. spotlight the researchers’ amazing efforts Undergraduate and graduate students that take place throughout the year. (i.e. the Master of Information Systems Security Management (MISSM), Master of Information Systems Assurance Management (MISAM)) working with Faculty are of particular worthiness as they are budding researchers who are developing their skills while at CUE. Besides poster presentations, the MISSM/MISAM Faculty who work with CUE graduate students, produce research that is of top quality published
18 BABAJIDE ADEGOKE STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY AND ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT
AUTOMATED KEY SHARING IN THE AUTHENTICATION PROCESS OF LTE BASE STATIONS
Sensitive information like the a first hop authentication procedure to International Mobile Subscriber Identity verify if the base station is legitimate by has been a problem on all generations the User Equipment, this authentication of mobile telecommunication networks, will protect the International Mobile i.e., 2G (GSM, GPRS), 3G (HDSPA, Subscriber Identity from been sent to EDGE, UMTS) and 4G (LTE, LTE-A). a fake base station during the Evolved Many cases of compromising users’ Packet System Authentication and Key privacy in telecom networks have been Agreement authentication procedure. reported. Cases of rogue base stations capable of tracking users and collecting Research Advisors: Dr. Fehmi Jafaar their personal data without the users’ and Prof. Rohn Ruhl knowledge have emerged. The USIM of a mobile phone must reveal its International Mobile Subscriber Identity in plaintext when trying to establish connection with a base station for the first time. The International Mobile Subscriber Identity can be intercepted by attackers and this can amount to a passive or active attack. This paper proposes the use of a pre-shared key in the authentication process of LTE base stations to local users. This will result in
19 YOUSEF ALABOUR STUDENT, MANAGEMENT
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMPACTING THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
Technology and people’s interaction realism. There are also object, and lane with vehicles is a hybrid occurrence detectors in place- known as the sensor that happens on a daily basis. On the fusions, they are sensors built in that one side, is the human error involved studies and predicts adjacent vehicles. regarding speed, seatbelts, and For testing these cars with built in AI, distractions placed on purpose. The it is a 3-dimensional virtual platform addition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in imitating the real world. AI is changing self-driving cars has amplified safety for the automotive world. the mass. There is a rise in intensifying AI in the car industry, and it is becoming Research Advisor: Dr. Alison Yacyshyn more competitive. Vehicular collisions have caused millions of deaths and injuries annually (including pedestrian involved deaths). The research leads to recommendations of AI’s integration in vehicles, and if indeed it can start to save lives on the roads and reduce damage or deaths. The claim of reduction in the safety category on the road is a big promise. The numbers are significant in reducing the crashes on the road today, as the AI scenario generator controls interfaces and the mistakes that drivers make. Through AI, the maps, traffic controls, and even the weather has been mimicked at a high level of
20 KELSEY BELL STUDENT, MANAGEMENT
DIVERSITY: THE RECESSION PREVENTION METHOD
In Alberta, economic reactions to global in non-petroleum-based manufacturing changes in the oil and gas industry could possibly create jobs and improve can lead to economic recession. Little prosperity. Greater reporting on sub- attention is paid to manufacturing sector manufacturing industries and industries, which can offset the effects related exchange rate fluctuations would of recession. Perhaps policy makers improve information for policy makers. should provide incentives to diversify Research Advisor: Dr. Alison Yacyshyn non-energy manufacturing in Alberta. Data-based research, a look at foreign currencies of Alberta’s major trading partners, and some observations of labor data allowed an examination and analysis of trends. This has revealed that growth
21 SHIKHAR BHATNAGAR STUDENT , MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY MANAGEMENT DR. YASIR MALIK ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, MISSM DR. SERGEY BUTAKOV ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, CHAIR, INFORMATION SECURITY AND ASSURANCE
ANALYZING DATA SECURITY REQUIREMENTS OF ANDROID MOBILE BANKING APPLICATION
Mobile banking applications are at high constructed application behavior, risk of cyber attacks due to security later applied generative fuzzing to vulnerabilities in their underlying the information collected during operating systems. Android is the most behavior analysis to analyze the data popular operating system with feature leak vulnerabilities during the inter like openness and customization. The process communication. Experimental Inter-Process Communication mechanism analysis and results shows the in Android enables applications to easily exploitable entry points in the communicate, share data and reuse applications under test. functionality between them. However, if used incorrectly, it can become attack surface, which allows malicious applications to exploit devices and compromise sensitive financial information. In this research, we studied fuzzing approach to analyze the data security of android mobile banking application during the inter process communication. Firstly, we automatically
22 CAESAR JUDE CLEMENTE STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY AND ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT
IS PREDICTING SOFTWARE SECURITY BUGS USING DEEP LEARNING BETTER THAN THE TRADITIONAL MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS?
The information age has brought shown an accuracy of more than sixty unprecedented advantages, but it percent with Deep Learning leading the also has risks. These issues take the list. This finding proves that utilizing Deep form of security breaches that have an Learning methods and a combination extensive destructive impact in today’s of software metrics can be tapped to institutions. Software insecurity is being create a better forecasting model thereby identified as one of the leading causes aiding software developers in predicting of these security breaches. In this security bugs. paper, we revisit one of the strategies in solving software insecurity, which Research Advisors: Dr. Fehmi Jaafar, is the use of software quality metrics. Dr. Yasir Malik We utilized a multi-layer deep forward network in examining whether there is a combination of metrics that can predict the appearance of security related bugs. We also applied the traditional machine learning algorithms such as decision tree, random forest, naïve Bayes, and support vector machines and compare the results with that of the Deep Learning technique. The results have successfully demonstrated that it was possible to develop an effective predictive model to predict software insecurity based on the software metrics and using Deep Learning. All the models generated have
23 HAJREDIN ILMI DAKU STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY AND ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT
BEHAVIORAL-BASED CLASSIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF RANSOMWARE VARIANTS USING MACHINE LEARNING
Due to the changing behavior of study are identification of the behavioral ansomware, traditional classification attributes which can be used for optimal and detection techniques do not classification accuracy and classification accurately detect new variants of of ransomware using machine learning ransomware. Attackers use polymorphic algorithms. We have evaluated and metamorphic techniques to avoid classification accuracy of three machine detection of signature -based systems. learning classification algorithms. We use machine learning classification to identify modified variants of ransomware Research Advisors: Dr. Pavol Zavarsky based on their behavior. To conduct our and Dr. Yasir Malik study, we used behavioral reports of 150 ransomware samples from 10 different ransomware families. Our data-set includes some of the newest ransomware samples available, providing an evaluation of the classification accuracy of machine learning algorithms on the current evolving status of ransomware. An iterative approach is used to identify optimum behavioral attributes used to achieve best classification accuracy. During behavioral attributes selection process, accuracy of machine learning algorithms has been used to verify improvements on the results of classification. Two main parts of this
24 SAMIP DHAKAL STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY AND ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT
BLOCKCHAIN FOR IOT DEVICE FIRMWARE INTEGRITY VERIFICATION AND UPDATE
There are various possible mechanisms be added to the network, for determining for updating outdated, potentially the suitable firmware file for the device vulnerable and exploitable, software and and when an anomaly is suspected. firmware on Internet connected devices. A mismatch indicates outdated or Delta updates, due to their well-known compromised device firmware and hence benefits, have become a common way the actual firmware is forwarded to the of updating the software. Recently, device. The proposed solution aims to several authors proposed the use of mitigate the attacks targeting the known blockchain technology for updating the firmware vulnerabilities in IoT devices by software and firmware. While both delta ensuring the device firmware is up-to- updates and blockchain technology are date while not compromised and the now used in different areas, this paper device receives the genuine firmware studies the feasibility of combining the whenever a firmware compromise is two technologies for firmware updates detected. on resource constrained IoT devices such as WiFi smart plugs and sensors. Research Advisors: Dr. Fehmi Jaafar, The paper identifies the scenarios where Dr. Pavol Zavarsky delta update may not work and proposes a new blockchain based IoT device firmware integrity verification and update mechanism. The proposed mechanism is based on integrity checking where the device firmware version and checksum is compared against the device firmware information stored in the tamper proof blockchain server before the device can
25 THEODORE KREIN STUDENT, MANAGEMENT
DIGITAL OILFIELD: USING DATA TO CRACK THE CODE
Oil & Gas (O&G) companies operate and Artificial Intelligence. DOF technology in a volatile environment where price can explore the 97% or $3.4 trillion in fluctuations force operators to adopt net property, plant and equipment that strategies that enhance productivity are not digitally connected with a lean, and create competitive advantages. The streamlined, efficient and competitive nodding donkey (Pumpjack) was invented business solution. nearly a 100 years ago and its technology is virtually unchanged producing two Research Advisor: Dr. Alison Yacyshyn resources: petroleum products and data. The data is collected on clipboards and stored on Excel spreadsheets in local field offices. Digital Oilfield (DOF) technology can become a catalyst to properly leverage O&G applications with the ability to improve productivity, accuracy, safety and efficiency up to 25%. Currently, only 3 - 5% of all O&G assets are digitally connected utilizing Big Data
26 THEODORE KREIN STUDENT, MANAGEMENT
REMODELING ALBERTA’S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE OUTLOOK
Alberta has the 3rd largest oil reserve decline has turned the markets towards in the world, with the ability to supply “Clean Energy” diversification. Using Canada’s energy needs for more existing infrastructure this allows for the than 500 years. Crude Oil extraction, introduction of sustainable Geothermal production, and exporting jobs have energy, continual profits and helps the been an important economic driver industry labor force transition into skilled throughout the history of the Province. renewable clean energy workers. Broad consensus from 12 secondary data sources compare WTI Crude Research Advisor: Dr. Alison Yacyshyn prices and the number of Wells drilled (active) illustrating Alberta’s reliance on this commodity. Crude oil demand and Conventional wellhead costs continue to rise, but the WTI Crude price has fluctuated drastically. This has directly resulted in an increase in well abandonment and decrease in investments, rig activity and profits. This
27 DR. MARK LOO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, MANAGEMENT
SEGMENTING ASEAN BY RELIGION: IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS
A study into the Association of South However, the great diversity in ASEAN East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is timely can be a challenge to foreign investors as western nations seek new markets who treat ASEAN as similar to the at a time when Brazil, Russia, India European Union with commonalities, and China (BRIC) signal overheated such as religion. This study identifies economies, Middle East and African the religions in ASEAN and discusses markets face political instability, and managerial implications for investors the US and Europe struggle to recover seeking business with ASEAN partners. from recession. With the third largest population in the world of over 600 million and half below aged 30, and an expanding middle class reaching 400 million, ASEAN has outperformed the global growth rate averaging over 5% annual GDP since 1980. The US-ASEAN Business Council, formed in 1984, projects continuous growth of over 5% in the next decade. Many nations have formed alliances with ASEAN such as the APEC, TPP, RCEP, EU-FTAs and Mercosur-ASEAN. Recognizing the growing economic and strategic importance of ASEAN, the Canada-ASEAN Business Council was formed in 2012 to help expand Canadian businesses among the ten member nations.
28 JOHN LUSWATA STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY AND ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT
ANALYSIS OF SCADA SECURITY USING P`ENETRATION TESTING : A CASE STUDY ON MODBUS TCP PROTOCOL
This paper presents an insight into The study also examines and tests attacks on Supervisory Control and the existing security countermeasures Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems that are unique to SCADA systems and specifically focusing on systems that use outlines some recommendations that the Modbus TCP protocol. A penetration may improve security in SCADA systems. testing approach is adopted using a The experimental results showed that novel penetration testing tool to (i) some of the attacks may severely impact test the effectiveness and efficiency of integrity and availability. the tool, (ii) examine the insider threat as well as the external threat through Research Advisors: Dr. Pavol Zavarsky internal and external penetration and Dr. Bobby Swar testing respectively and (iii) rate the vulnerabilities identified through the penetration tests according to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System.
29 DJAHLIN JEAN- CLAUDE NIKOUE STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY MANAGEMENT
SECURITY EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR SOFTWARE DEFINED NETWORK SOLUTIONS
Software Defined Networking (SDN) has vulnerability assessment proposed introduced both innovative opportunities in this research is layered to evaluate and additional risks in the networking each layer of the SDN architecture field. Among disadvantages of SDN and each evaluation metrics defined in one can mention its susceptibility this research has been matched with to vulnerabilities associated with the security controls defined in NIST both virtualization and the traditional 800-53. Through the series of tests on networking. Selecting a proper controller actual controllers the paper provides for an organization may not be a a sample on how the proposed trivial task as there is a variety of SDN methodology can be used to evaluate controllers on the market and each existing SDN solutions. of them may come with advantages and disadvantages from the security Research Advisors: Dr. Sergey Butakov, point of view. This research proposes Dr. Yasir Malik a comprehensive methodology for organizations to evaluate security- related features in SDN controllers. The proposed methodology can serve as a guideline in the decisions related to SDN choice and implementation adopt. The
30 JASJEET SINGH STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY MANAGEMENT DR. YASIR MALIK ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY MANAGEMENT
A POLICY-BASED MULTI-LAYERED ACCESS CONTROL ARCHITECTURE FOR HEALTH RECORD SYSTEMS
The use of payment tokens, based on Element in a Samsung Android device. In EMV® specifications and the Payment our theoretical security model presented, Card Industry token standard, both this master key can be created using propels the spread of mobile payment one biometric fingerprint pattern or two technologies and improves the security merged patterns. Sub-keys can then be of Mobile Payments including protection generated from this master key that can of the original payment information and be applied to transaction encryption, primary account numbers. However, payment token encryption and to protect some researchers have demonstrated the payment token in the Secure Element that attacks on payment tokens in the phone where the mobile EMV® through decoding the magnetic secure customer information is stored. transmission or near field communication signal allows an attacker to use Research Advisor: Dr. Pavol Zavarsky stolen tokens to complete malicious transactions or to guess new tokens through analysis of the token format. The stolen tokens are then used to make fraudulent transactions. In this research we examined Samsung Pay in order to design a novel theoretical security model using a fingerprint- based master key for unlock phone authentication, and transaction authentication and encryption. Samsung Pay is an application installed in a Secure
31 SAMUEL SORIANO STUDENT, MANAGEMENT
VALUING SECURITIES WITH AI
This project will examine how the efficient Intelligence replacing the majority of market hypotheses and technical analysis players in the market as players transition applies to Artificial Intelligence and how to use AI for profit. The research shows it can beat the market using these ideas. that over time the profitability of the The research shows that majority of the markets will be reduced the more players in the real-world exchanges are efficient the market becomes as AI limited to human capabilities causing saturates the market. inefficiencies in real-world markets, and this creates a lag before the market can Research Advisor: Dr. Alison Yacyshyn react to new information. As long as there are inefficiencies in the market, an advanced AI can beat the market as it has the potential to respond faster than all the people in the Market. Using this approach is limited to liquid markets where securities are bought and sold consistently and markets where players only have access to public information for an AI to beat the market. This research show that current AI does not have the capabilities to consistently beat the market as research has only begun in this field. In the future when AI can react to all information in the market appropriately, this is the point where it can consistently beat the market. Resulting in Artificial
32 YYIMING SUN STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY MANAGEMENT
A SURVEY OF PAYMENT TOKEN VULNERABILITIES TOWARDS STRONGER SECURITY WITH FINGERPRINT BASED ENCRYPTION ON SAMSUNG PAY
The use of payment tokens, based on Element in a Samsung Android device. In EMV® specifications and the Payment our theoretical security model presented, Card Industry token standard, both this master key can be created using propels the spread of mobile payment one biometric fingerprint pattern or two technologies and improves the security merged patterns. Sub-keys can then be of Mobile Payments including protection generated from this master key that can of the original payment information and be applied to transaction encryption, primary account numbers. However, payment token encryption and to protect some researchers have demonstrated the payment token in the Secure Element that attacks on payment tokens in the phone where the mobile EMV® through decoding the magnetic secure customer information is stored. transmission or near field communication signal allows an attacker to use Research Advisors: Prof. Ron Ruhl & stolen tokens to complete malicious Prof. Hamman transactions or to guess new tokens through analysis of the token format. The stolen tokens are then used to make fraudulent transactions. In this research we examined Samsung Pay in order to design a novel theoretical security model using a fingerprint- based master key for unlock phone authentication, and transaction authentication and encryption. Samsung Pay is an application installed in a Secure
33 DR. ASHISH THOMAS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, MANAGEMENT
HARNESSING THE POWER OF INTEGRATION AND ITERATIONS OF QUALITY TOOLS TO CREATE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Successful manufacturing or service and consistency of lean benefits through organizations adopt some types of all stages of resilient operations. The improvement methodology to achieve study has highlighted that an iterative optimum performance. There is an ever- approach enables transformation increasing demand for organizations systems to harness the cumulative to think lean by reducing waste and impact of all individual lean tools on maximizing operational efficiencies. The the complete system. The power of repertory grid technique was chosen as nested integrated systems facilitates the preferred method for gaining insight organizations to achieve optimum into the research questions. This RepGrid performance, high quality, lower costs, technique employed a cooperative and enhanced productivity consistently inquiry using a case study approach to and uniformly. design a cohesive framework of tools that facilitates a lean platform. The primary objective of this study was to deepen an understanding of the different lean tools and practices employed in the production and service environment. This study provided significant insights into lean practices and the power of nested common tools which apply to multiple operational stages. The nested systems are the outcome of blending individual tools; while multiple nested systems constitute an integrated framework. An integrated network ensures continuity
34 NICOLAS VILLALOBOS STUDENT, MANAGEMENT
HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN PREDICT SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
New advancements in technologies and “sad”) as well as a significant use of like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data the first-person singular pronouns rather and Machine Learning are reshaping than second or third-person pronouns. If the world as they are applied to the right algorithms are developed and different areas like healthcare or implemented in a well-trained AI, it would human resources. AI can provide a be able to predict suicides and effectively potential opportunity to assist people help those in need. who may experience suicidal thoughts. Suicide cases on social platforms like Research Advisor: Dr. Alison Yacyshyn Facebook where some individuals have committed suicide while live streaming, are leading companies to develop AIs in recognizing patterns to identify the likelihood someone might attempt suicide. Linguistic (and qualitative) studies have demonstrated that depress people with suicidal thoughts are more likely to use adjectives with negative connotations (e.g. “miserable”, “lonely”
35 ALEXANDER WHITFORD STUDENT, MANAGEMENT
IDENTIFYING FAKE EDMONTON RESTURANT REVIEWS WRITTEN AUTOMATICALLY BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
The identification of Artificial Intelligence immune to artificially generated reviews, (AI) written reviews on Yelp.ca, for the top that appear to be written by AI. The five restaurants in the Edmonton area is analysis indicates that there is an artificial important for consumers and business presence in the reviews of higher end owners alike. We must be aware of such Edmonton restaurants. things as AI written reviews. Generating and or creating any reviews, for major Research Advisor: Dr. Alison Yacyshyn consumer forums such as Yelp, should be of concern as they are not regulated. This research focuses on ratings from 5 restaurants deemed some of the city’s best locations, and they are not
36 DR. ALISON YACYSHYN DEAN , MIHALCHEON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT CHERYL E. CABLE FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY, SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY (U OF A)
COMPLETE DENTURE EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY: STARTING WITH A STORY
“There is a knowledge translation gap Student comments on the course at within undergraduate dentistry education the end of the term were extremely from didactic courses to laboratory and positive and encouraging of this format. clinical sessions early in education. Curriculum changes are reflective of the Dentistry students have a hard time power of storytelling to improve dentistry understanding the applications from education. “ bookwork to clinical environments when they have never seen a clinical dentistry patient. The Complete Denture course of 2017 was taught to second year dentistry students with a new format. Each lecture started with “Let me tell you a story”. A narrative of a clinical scenario describing the encounter in the format of a bedtime story. A specific lesson within the story was made to link to each didactic lecture that followed.
37 DR. ALISON YACYSHYN DEAN , MIHALCHEON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT CHERYL E. CABLE FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY, SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY (U OF A)
SHANNON D. SCOTT RN FACULTY OF NURSING (U OF A)
IS THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN WHAT IS TAUGHT AND WHAT IS IMPLEMENTED IN DENTURE PATIENT TREATMENT? UNDERSTANDING A KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION GAP.
A 31 item questionnaire that explored 84% do not fabricate posterior palatal undergraduate denture education seals in contrast to reporting dentists’ 71% do not use facebow transfers to an clinical practices was administered to articulator dentists using the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) OASIS online platform. 86% do not do lab remounts with insert oasisdiscussions.ca 94% reported that dentures should be An environmental scan was completed of taught in dental schools all 10 Dental Schools in Canada regarding 59.8% reported that dentures are being specialist, general dentist and denturist taught “well” or “very well”. involvement in their undergraduate denture programs. There is a disconnect between the comprehensive technique taught in Question topics included: referral academic institutions and the more patterns, procedure steps completed, efficient manner completed in private perception of education and patient care. practice. Curriculum change is indicated. Results: 174 registered clinicians responded to Canadian Dental Association OASIS email survey Less than 2% of respondents complete denture cases in the same way as taught in Canadian Dental Schools. 82.2% of clinicians do not take a radiograph.
38 DAVISON ZVABVA STUDENT, MASTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY MANAGEMENT
ON THE CHALLENGES OF ACHIEVING IEC 62443 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS IN TIME SENSITIVE INDUSTRIAL NETWORKS
The IEC 62443 security standards industrial control networks following introduce the concepts of zones, IEC 62443 security standards and (ii) conduits, and security levels as a way evaluate if time constraint requirements of segmenting and isolating the sub- for communications are achievable. The systems of an industrial control network. results reveal that the latency and jitters Network segmentation physically/ introduced by multilayered firewalls logically partition the control network makes it challenging to achieve real- into separate communication zones time communications in some industrial to restrict unnecessary flow of traffic applications when strict IEC 62443 between zones of different trust level. security standards are followed. Firewalls with deep packet inspection capabilities for filtering industrial control Research Advisors: Dr. Pavol Zavarsky, protocols are indispensable elements Dr. Sergey Butakov in implementing important security principles, standards, and best practices of IEC 62443. While partitioning of the industrial control network and placement of multiple firewalls at various locations provides defense in-depth against cyber-attacks, it is important to consider the impact of these firewalls on nodes distributing time critical communications. This paper attempts to (i) study network performance impact introduced by the implementation of multiple firewalls in Modbus TCP/IP
39 DR. PATRICK KAMAU DEAN, FACULTY OF SCIENCE & DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR INNOVATION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
WELCOME FROM THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE
Once again, welcome to Concordia We continue to embark on a collaborative University of Edmonton Research Forum research culture in the Faculty of Science, 2018. As the Dean of Science, it gives be it with student projects or faculty-led me great pride and joy as we celebrate research. Collaborative research effort for the third year in a row CUE’s research between different departments in the efforts and findings. Science continues to Faculty of Science, namely Departments be well represented and I am profoundly of Biological and Environmental excited about the breadth and depth of Sciences, Public Health, and Physical research in the Faculty. Undergraduate and Mathematical Sciences is combining student research has flourished various areas of expertise in order to over the years supported by a very investigate a projects of considerable knowledgeable and dedicated faculty. breadth. This is attested by the kinds of The Faculty are engaged in research in poster presentations from the Faculty of all fields from biology to public health, Science in 2018 research forum. some in basic research and others in applied research.
40 KHADIJA ABDULLAHI STUDENT, BIOLOGY MARIOLA JANOWICZ ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
EFFECT OF ATALUREN ON MYO7A NONSENSE MUTATION RESPONSIBLE FOR USHER SYNDROME
In-frame nonsense mutation is through a premature stop codon in responsible for a majority of genetic mRNA. In this experiment, we will diseases present today. compare for the first time the relative Premature termination codon (PTC), efficacies of the oxadiazole Ataluren also known as nonsense mutation, in restoring the nonsense mutation in causes an abrupt stop of translation by the USH1B gene, which encodes the introducing the presence of one of three protein myosin VIIA. We will be treating stop codons; UAG, UAA, and UGA. This primary Usher fibroblast cell lines with occurs due to a single point alteration Ataluren. The results will be analyzed in the messenger RNA transcript. The using immunofluorescence microscopy earlier the mutation occurs in the gene, to localize our protein and allow us to the more truncated the protein becomes. observe the expression of potentially Truncated proteins are functionally restored truncated proteins using defective and, as a result, are a cause of fluorescent dyes. multiple disabilities. Nonsense mutations present in MYO7A are responsible Research Advisor: Dr. Mariola Janowicz for Usher syndrome type I, the most severe version of Usher syndrome. It is categorized by sensorineural hearing loss and retinis pigmentosa. Certain aminoglycosides and pharmaceutical drugs such as Ataluren, can induce the functionality and addition of an amino acid, thus continuing translation and producing a complete and functional protein by having the ribosomes read
41 KHADIJA ABDULLAHI STUDENT, BIOLOGY
BLUE LED IRRADIATION OF MDA-MB-231 CELLS: INDUCTION OF APOPTOSIS THROUGH ROS MEDIATED SIGNALLING PATHWAY
Breast cancer is one of the most LED at wavelengths of 400nm, 450nm common cancers and is responsible for and 480nm at durations of ½ hr ,1hr and millions of deaths globally every year. 2hr in order to induce apoptosis. The Triple negative breast cancers are very cells are irradiated and then exposed to difficult to treat because of their lack alamarBlue viability reagent. Metabolic of estrogen, progesterone and human activity is visualized by alamarBlue epidermal growth factor receptors. As viability reagent and is measured by such, these cancers are unresponsive to absorbance spectrophotometry. Cells are conventional hormonal therapies and are treated with DAPI stain and visualized most commonly treated by means of neo- using a fluorescent microscope. No adjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy. reduction in metabolic activity was Previous studies show that blue LED’s, observed in ½ hr treatment but a due to a spectrum of wavelengths, reduction in metabolic activity was possess anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, observed at 400nm wavelength for 1 apoptotic and anti-proliferative hr treatment; no reduction in metabolic properties. Due to these properties, they activity was observed for 450nm or have been used in treating acne and 480nm in 1 hr treatment. A reduction in neonatal jaundice. In this experiment, metabolic activity was observed in all we aim to study the effects of different three wavelengths for the 2 hr treatment. wavelengths and exposure times of Blue LED on cancer cells, mainly to examine if an apoptotic process is indicated as well Research Advisor: as understand phototherapy mechanisms Dr. Deborah Hemmerling in treatment of triple negative breast cancers. In this study, we irradiate MDA- MB-231 breast cancer cells with Blue
42 ALLYSON APOLONIO STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
SYNTHESIS AND REACTIVITY OF CONJUGATED ACYL SILANES
Conjugated acyl silanes are potential carbon. Finally, removal of the dithiane substrates for Brook-rearrangements, reveals the acyl silane. Reaction of allowing access to conjugated-anionic π these substrates with carbon based networks. Synthesis of these substrates nucleophiles is also explored. is disclosed, using a three-step process. First, conjugated aldehydes are converted to dithianes. This is Research Advisor: Dr. Owen Scadeng followed by silation of the thioacetal
43 AMANDA AMAGWU STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AFTER DEGREE AVIK SHARMA STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AFTER DEGREE BAILEY ELZINGA STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AFTER DEGREE
WATER QUALITY ON FIRST NATION RESERVES
The disparity in the quality and safety from a Cree First Nations community, of drinking water between First Nation north of Edmonton on a four-year long reserves and non-reserves in Canada boil water advisory. Comparison with the is a long-standing issue. Although Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water access to water has greatly improved on Quality showed that the contaminant reserves, most First Nation communities level of the water at this reserve exceeds are subject to boil water advisories due most key safety parameters. to unsafe water sources. First Nation Due to the health risks posed by unsafe communities are significantly more water, a solution to this crisis is urgently vulnerable to water-borne diseases due needed. We suggest a multifaceted to inadequate access to safe drinking strategy involving engagement of water. the First Nation communities in the We examined the magnitude and extent revamping of existing policies, cultural of this problem, causative factors and sensitivity and source water management possible solutions by interviewing to combat both present and future environmental public health specialists drinking water issues. The uniqueness involved in an ongoing water quality of each reserve requires personalised study on a reserve. Key issues relating solutions to the water quality issues. to communication barriers, ineffective policies and funding structure were Research Advisor: Dr. Sandra Song identified from reviewing published literature and reports. As part of an ongoing case study in collaboration with the University of Alberta, we analysed water quality results
44 SAKSHI BHARDWAJ STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
ESTERIFICATION AND AMIDATION OF TRICARBONYL(BENZOIC ACID)CHROMIUM
The focus of this project was to (Dhimitruka and Santalucia, 2006). The synthesize alkene-terminated resulting product was characterized via organometallic complexes which IR spectroscopy. As an alternative route could be then be used to functionalize to an alkene-terminated product an Si nanocrystals. The Yamaguchi amidation reaction was investigated via esterification of Tricarbonyl(benzoic the DCC-coupling of tricarbonyl(benzoic acid)chromium with decene-1-ol was acid)chromium with 1-amino-5-hexene investigated as a possible synthetic route (Neises and Steglich, 1978).
Research Advisor: Dr. John Washington
45 DR. ZOLTAN BERKES ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PHYSICS
NARRATIVES IN PHYSICS TEACHING
Narratives are usually related to subject This study investigates the role of areas in humanities. narratives in both describing the physical process in those word problems, as It is the subject of less discussion to well as the ways of choosing the fitting show how sciences, physics in particular, equations, “formulas,” with which to also rely on narratives. solve those problems. The importance of “Narratives” is an expression that is choosing the “right” narrative in finding rarely emphasized as a methodological the solution is demonstrated through category in sciences. For example, two examples: the case of the first law of the concept of “narrative framing” in thermodynamics and a simple scenario describing natural phenomena and from elementary mechanics. the subsequent creation of scientific models is fairly new. On the other hand, describing historical scenarios as a background to teaching (and learning) about theories in physics is probably the most direct albeit subtle reference to narratives. In the learning process, students also get acquainted with the most common scenarios in which those theories can be applied. The tools are the traditional “”word-problems””: these are narratives that provide practical examples to students.
46 CHARITY BLANEY STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
VERTEBRATE HABITAT SELECTION IN COVERED AND OPEN AREAS ON A GRADIENT OF PARKLAND FOREST TO FROZEN WETLAND
Varying amounts of vegetation on the in usage of these 3 types of habitat. landscape provide differing amounts My goals for this research project are of cover between habitats, even in to increase understanding of habitat areas that may be spatially near to each selection by vertebrate species in other. Vertebrate species have specific Northern Alberta during the winter needs which strongly influence their season. I aim to contribute to knowledge selection and use of habitat, and amount regarding habitat characteristics that are of vegetative cover is often one such important for wildlife success, specifically defining factor. Understanding the types the need for vegetative cover in winter. of habitats animals select is important I hope that my investigation will help for identifying resource availability provide increased knowledge of habitat and habitat characteristics required needs that can be used functionally by wildlife species. I am conducting a toward effective land management and study in North Central Alberta of habitat habitat conservation efforts. selection in winter based on vegetative cover by making field surveys of use Research Advisor: Dr. Mariola Janowicz of forested, edge, and open areas by vertebrates. I seek to answer the research questions of which species use open and forested habitats during winter, whether they select one type more than the other, and whether there is evidence of edge effects in the survey areas. I count individual use in the 3 habitat types, and analyze my field data to discover if a significant difference exists
47 KRISTEN BRIDGETT STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
COLIFORM BACTERIA, SPECIFICALLY STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS, ARE FOUND ON CELL PHONES
For many of us the cell phone is a be seen as fomites. The bacteria constant part of our day to day life. Many found could in the future have more Students use their phones frequently prominent growth due to the areas throughout the day and if not carful that we keep our cellphones, in students in the laboratory could be a warm snug pocket, is ideal for using and introducing bacteria to their bacterial persistence. This research phones. The purpose of this study is was an effective start to show that to determine if Coliform bacteria and bacteria is present on phones Staphylococcus aureus are present outside the hospital and can be taken on students’ cellphones. Bacteria was further in determining just what kind collected from ten university student’s of bacteria is actually present on phones using a sterile cotton swab student’s phones. before, and after laboratory sessions. The phone swabs were inoculated and Research Advisor: grown on three types of medium: luria- Dr. Deborah Hemmerling bertani (LB) agar, eosin methylated blue (EMB) agar, and mannitol salt agar (MSA). The bacteria were then Gram-stained. Finally, an antibiotic sensitivity test was conducted using penicillin, tetracycline and streptomycin discs. In the antibiotic sensitivity testing, there was bacteria present that exhibited resistance to certain antibiotics. In this undergraduate laboratory, bacteria were shown to grow on phones. Therefore, phones can
48 ALLISON CRAWFORD STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CRAIG RICHTER PROFESSOR, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF INTACT CANOLA SEEDS FOR EVALUATING SEED QUALITY
Canola (Brassica napus) is an important specific to the growing locations and crop in Canada. The development of a environmental conditions under which high-speed, non-destructive, and reliable the seed was grown. This study examines instrumental method to evaluate quality the attributes of the near infrared of canola seeds is of major interest reflectance spectra of intact seed of to growers, processors and oilseed canola grown in Alberta and Manitoba. breeders. Near Infrared Spectroscopy NIRS reflectance measurements were (NIRS) has shown to be a promising taken for various samples with different method toward that end. Previous percentage of foreign material, moisture, investigations have shown a good as well as oil content. agreement between the reference data and NIRS predicted values for quality of Research Advisor: Dr. Xin Chen canola seed. These calibrations were
49 DANIKA DEIBERT STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MADELEINE WIEBE STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
JADE ROY-SPENCER STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DR. KATHIE-ANNE WALTERS SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST (INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY)
TRANSCRIPTOME ANALYSIS: SYNERGISM WITH STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE AND 1918 PANDEMIC INFLUENZA VIRUS
This study delves further into the uncharacterized genes were located, synergy of co-infection between the adjacent characterized genes with 1918 pandemic influenza virus and known proteins were examined for their Streptococcus pneumoniae. Most respective function. If the function is mortality seen in this outbreak was due related to pathogenicity, the assumption to the secondary bacterial infection. is that the neighbouring uncharacterized Transcriptome data was derived by gene has a similar function. The goal is comparing single agent infection S. to establish uncharacterized genes that pneumoniae with the transcriptome could be related to the pathogenicity of from S. pneumoniae in a co-infected the bacteria and subsequent synergism. lung. This data revealed that the co- infecting S. pneumoniae had a different Research Advisor: transcriptional profile then when it Dr. Deborah Hemmerling infected alone. This study examines the preferentially upregulated transcripts of what appears to be novel genes, specifically to determine if those genes contribute to virulence. These genes were analyzed and mapped using BLAST programs. Once the
50 HARVEENA DHILLON STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
SYNTHESIS OF 1,4-DIENE-3-OLS WITH C-2 SUBSTITUTED ESTERS
1,4-dien-3-ols have the potential to act substrates. This method also provides as substrates for the anionic equivalent easy points for diversification as the of the Nazarov cyclization. The synthesis Gilman reagent, alkyne, and aldehyde of these substrates is presented by using all provide points for diversification to Gilman reagents to add into ynoates in increase the library size with ease. a conjugate fashion. The intermediate enolate could then be trapped with Research Advisor: Dr. Owen Scadeng enals to form the desired substrates. It was found that methyl-2-hexynoate was a suitable alkyne starting material and a variety of different aldehydes were shown to be compatible with the conditions to provide a small set of
51 BRYNNE GOURLAY STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
IDENTIFICATION OF CONSERVED PROTEINS IN NOCARDIA BRASILIENSIS AND OTHER ACTINOMYCETOMA CAUSATIVE AGENTS
Mycetoma, a neglected tropical disease, amongst other actinomycetoma bacteria. is caused by a multitude of different Using a bioinformatical approach, microorganisms. This condition may be identified Nocardia brasiliensis proteins caused by both bacterial and fungal were used to search for homologs in species, with the bacterial species other potential mycetoma-causative suggested to spread more quickly agents. Three key DNA replication through the body. Often untreated due proteins have been identified as potential to lack of medical access, amputation candidates. Interestingly, homologs were is ultimately a commonly relied upon identified in other Nocardia species, as resolution to avoid further complications well as Rhodococcus, Actinobacteria, and in patients. Nocardia brasiliensis, Corynebacteriales species. Furthermore, although a rare pathogen, is the main nucleotide sequences encoded by the culprit of actinomycetoma (bacteria- three most common causative agents caused mycetoma). This underreported of mycetoma were also compared. From disease has not been fully explored. these analyses, the 16S ribosome was Currently, actinomycetoma has no identified as partially conserved amongst preventative measures. Given the difficult them. These identified elements can now patient accessibility of medical care, serve as a platform for future studies an effective, practical, pre-emptive exploring them as potential vaccine approach is worth exploring. One such candidate. measure is the implementation of a broad-spectrum vaccine aimed at most, Research Advisor: Dr. Carla C. Salvado even all, mycetoma causative bacterial agents by targeting a conserved motif. I hypothesize that at least one Nocardia brasiliensis encoded protein is conserved
52 SUKHMAN GREWAL STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
PAULINA REDUCHA STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH PAMELA GUTOWSKI STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH RICHARD CASPA STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
FOOD SAFETY: POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN CANADA
BACKGROUND: It is estimated that educational approach and don’t have any about 1 in 8 Canadians suffer from minimum standards that food producers a FBI yearly, resulting in 11,600 and process have to comply with. Global hospitalizations and 238 deaths Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards per year. Food safety is a global, are an emerging third-party certification shared responsibility, where various system, adopted by many businesses stakeholders join hands to achieve the voluntarily to stay competitive, and cut common goal of making food safer. cost and time associated with multiple audits. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the research was to give an overview Recent scientific advancements have of different agencies and policies introduced unconventional products, (including acts, regulations and practices and technology like home standards) around food safety, which delivery of grocery, meal kits and vertical are applicable in various parts of farming. These present a grey area in Canada, including global schemes. terms of food safety as there are no policies or guidelines available for the RESULTS: In Canada, food safety is a industry or the inspection agencies. collaborative effort. Provincial agencies develop, implement and enforce food CONCLUSION: With globalization and the safety policies such as the Public complexity of food chain, it has become Health Act for their province. Federally, necessary to use the multi-barrier Health Canada establishes policies approach to prevent FBI. and standards related to the nutritional composition, quality and safety of Research Advisor: Dr. Sandra Song foods and CFIA is the enforcement agency. Globally, WHO and FAO use an
53 KIM HONG STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
KNOEVENAGEL AND UNKNOWN ALDEHYDES
The Knoevenagel reaction was aldehydes were tested to potentially add identified as a potential new lab for the aspect of unknown determination to the undergraduate organic curriculum. the lab procedure by using TLC and NMR The need to adjust the standard lab analysis without the need to run time- procedure so it could be completed in consuming purification techniques. a 4-hour lab period was addressed by adding a dehydrating agent in triethyl Research Advisor: Dr. Owen Scadeng orthoformate. Furthermore, a variety of
54 SYDNEY HUCULAK STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
THE EFFECT OF AN EXTREME CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIO ON THE GROWTH OF A NATIVE SUBMERGED MACROPHYTE (MYRIOPHYLLUM SIBIRICUM) IN A NORTHERN ALBERTA LAKE
Macrophytes play a structuring role in measured biweekly for a 4-month period. lake ecosystems by creating crucial The final dry weight of M. sibiricum in habitat for many zooplankton and fish both control and treatment microcosms species in the littoral zone of the lake. was also measured. It was hypothesized Therefore, changes in the abundance that the 6-degree temperature increase or biomass of macrophytes can alter would have a negative effect on M. community-level dynamics. Previous sibiricum, causing a reduction in growth research has shown that macrophytes and biomass. Results show that biomass growth response to increased and chlorophyll a concentrations did not temperature is species-specific. significantly differ between the control However, there is currently a lack of and treatment microcosms. However, research being conducted in this area the 6-degree temperature increase in Alberta. This study focused on the significantly reduced the growth of M. effect of climate change on the growth sibiricum. This suggests that Alberta of a native submerged macrophyte in a lakes could see changes in macrophyte northern Alberta lake in an attempt to growth under an extreme climate change address this unexplored area of research. scenario. A 6-degree temperature increase was used to simulate an extreme climate Research Advisor: Dr. Mariola Janowicz change scenario in Alberta. Myriophyllum sibiricum and lake water were sampled from Lac La Nonne, Alberta. The filtered lake water and native macrophyte were used to create 10 1L microcosms stored in environmental chambers. Growth, water quality, and chlorophyll a were
55 REETIKA JASWAL STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
SYNTHESIS OF 1,3-SILYLKETO ESTERS
1,3-dicarbonyls are present throughout esters were also conducted to organic synthesis, but surprisingly these compare their reactivity to traditional compounds have traditionally lacked 1,3-ketoesters. acyl silanes as one of the carbonyls. Through the use of 1,3-dithianes as Research Advisor: Dr. Owen Scadeng umpolung reactants, silyl carbonyls were synthesized attached to esters at carbon-3. Reactions of the 1,3-silylketo
56 DALLAS MCINTOSH STUDENT, MATHEMATICS
MATH THESIS
The poster will be about my Math 400 The poster is just a generalization thesis paper. The paper goes into game of the paper. Hopefully people who theory. Specifically, the thesis analyzes view the Math 400 poster will come No-Limit Texas Hold-Em Poker. It shows away with the very least a better how bucketing is implemented, and understanding of poker, and potentially utilized in poker for creating a poker that of strategy in poker. program/computer. Bucketing can also help with making a strategy, that is Research Advisor: Dr. Rossitza Marinova competitive against all player types.
57 TONY MAK PROGRAM COORDINATOR, PUBLIC HEALTH DR. SANDRA SONG DRIECTOR, PUBLIC HEALTH
SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AS BROKERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Social sciences have made profound professional training has proven contribution to population health. invaluable in addressing history, culture, However, today’s public health field values, economic and political factors appears to have been “colonised by in the community’s fabric. Hence, reach, the individualistic ethic of medicine and diffusion, translation and adoption are economics”. In view that technology facilitated; the chance of success is is exploding, and that funding and improved. resources are diminishing, social While traditional approaches have failed dimensions may be unheeded. to resolve the decade-long problems Indeed, social dimensions continue to due to cultural (in)sensitivity, the new remain an integral part of public health. approach that considers social context The authors illustrate and support seems to be promising. The project is the notion with a project in-progress on-going; the authors will continue to related to drinking water quality in an monitor. At this point, the community indigenous community. By tradition, has accepted the proposition with full solutions to water quality problems focus cooperation; water samples have been on science and technology; nonetheless, obtained, analyzed, and the proposed finding the technical solution is only new technology is being refined to target the first step towards health protection. specific parameters. Social sciences Actual problem solving involves more continue to play a role in public health. than scientific knowledge but should encompass social and political factors. The dissemination and implementation “ of technology are complex, multifaceted, and are impacted by social contextual factors. In this project, a social scientist’s
58 TONY MAK PROGRAM COORDINATOR, PUBLIC HEALTH DR. SANDRA SONG DRIECTOR, PUBLIC HEALTH
“TELL ME A (GOOD) STORY AND IT WILL LIVE IN MY HEART FOREVER”; STORYTELLING AS A PEDAGOGICAL TOOL IN ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS
This project explores the use of Narrative pedagogy encourages teachers storytelling as a pedagogical tool and and students to share stories, learn the qualities required of an effective “data”, and translate experiences into “storyteller” in Environmental Public knowledge. Stories are based on the Health programs. Environmental Public lived experience of participants. The Health integrates (Environmental Health) story quality and the telling process Sciences and (Public Health) Services, are important. Effective storytellers and as the name implies, the public is the exude while sharing stories, and they centre of the discipline. can make a story a great story. The authors propose a study to determine the Environmental Public Health programs, qualities required of an instructor to be like other professional programs, a good storyteller who could excite and are charged with preparing students create rapport with Environmental Public for the real world. Human nature is Health students. unpredictable; Students must endeavour to link practice with science when “ interacting with the public. They can learn through “stories”. “Stories are data with a soul”. Storytelling is popular in professional programs; it raises enthusiasm, initiates engagement, improves comprehension, allows interaction and inspires learning. “Stories” are not new in public health. We have known them as “scenarios”, “case studies”, and others.
59 SHINA MALHI STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
ORGANOCATALYSIS AND THE DIELS- ALDER REACTION
An undergrad lab was developed to lab will also incorporate the use of NMR incorporate modern organocatalysis techniques to elucidate the structure of and their use in the classic Diels-Alder the major isomer, as well as the isomeric reaction. Amine based catalysts lower ratio of the products. the activation energy of the reaction while also being readily available, and Research Advisor: Dr. Owen Scadeng amenable to enantioselective processes if desired. By using one of MacMillan’s catalysts and a series of different dienes, a suitable lab was developed for the use of an advanced organic lab. This
60 ADAM MOGHRABI STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
FACTORS AFFECTING THE RECOVERY OF THE KEYSTONE SEA URCHIN DIADEMA ANTILLARUM IN THE CARIBBEAN Diadema antillarum is a keystone species highly representative of the rest of the which faced a massive die-off in 1983 Caribbean. This site was compared to the due to the rapid dispersal of an unknown Banco Capiro off-shore reef sytem in Tela pathogen. The die-off of this sea urchin which has a high density of Diadema, has facilitated a phase-shift from coral- high scleractinian cover, and low dominated reefs to algae-dominated macroalgae cover. This research attempts reefs. Diadema has since been in a to identify the barriers to Diadema’s state of slow recovery. This research recovery so that measures can be taken took place over four 8-week summer to restore the health of the Caribbean expeditions in 2014-2017 in two locations reefs. in Honduras. In Utila, an island with low Diadema density, low scleractinian Research Advisor: Dr. Sheri Dalton cover, and high macroalgae cover;
61 LINDSAY MULLER STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
IDENTIFICATION AND ALIGNMENT OF HUMAN AND MOUSE SNPS IN THE DMD GENE USING A BIOINFORMATICAL APPROACH
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a fatal, SNPs in DMD are conserved in mouse muscle wasting disease affecting DMD. Using a bioinformatical approach, individuals who have acquired a mutation I collected various SNP mutations, and in their dystrophin (DMD) gene. Some of using Ensemble, I then aligned the these mutations are a single nucleotide genes. Of the exons examined, 212 alteration. Dystrophin is a vital part SNPs were identified, 17 of which were of a protein complex in skeletal and on exon 57. Furthermore, many of the cardiac muscle tissue. The gene is the human SNPs align with mouse DMD gene largest in the human genome, spanning SNPs. This study will allow for further 79 exons on the X chromosome. MD characterization of the DMD SNPs, as is X linked dominant, targeting mostly well as serve as a platform for future in males that are affected by the one of vivo studies, opening opportunities to the two most common forms, Duchenne possible gene therapies for individuals muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker with muscular dystrophy. muscular dystrophy (BMD). Both DMD and BMD result from single nucleotide Research Advisor: Dr. Carla C. Salvado polymorphisms (SNPs). To date, there is no cure for the disease. Of the identified SNP mutations, the phenotype for many has not yet been characterized. To this end, identifying conserved regions between humans and mice would allow for further characterization of these SNPs, as dystrophinin in mice is functionally analogous. Therefore, I hypothesize that some of the human
62 MEGAN O’NEILL STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AFTER DEGREE
ANCA NASTASE STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AFTER DEGREE
OLUFUNMILAYO KOLA-EDEKERE STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AFTER DEGREE
ERIC ILE STUDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AFTER DEGREE
DR. SANDRA SONG DIRECTOR, PUBLIC HEALTH
WILDFIRE AIR QUALITY ISSUES IN ALBERTA
Context: Canada has 347 million hectares that lead to cleaner air and healthier of forest land and is prone to forest communities. The focus is to reduce fires, with approximately 8,000 wildfires industrial air pollution rather than annually. Wildfire smoke has over 150 wildfires. In Alberta, the focus is on chemicals affecting air quality, and many public communication and emergency are carcinogenic. The smoke spreads preparedness to control fires, rather than across large distances impacting the controlling fire smoke or creating clean health of many Canadians. air sanctuaries. Objectives: This study sets out to find the Conclusion: Air pollutants of concern operational policy/guidelines related to are continuously monitored with the air quality issues resulting from Air Quality Health Index, a federal and forest fires. provincial government tool. It helps individuals understand health risks Methods: We consulted various online associated with current air quality and federal and provincial guidelines, reports, guide their activity level as required. and documents. Key words include: Monitoring methods do not measure air quality, emergency preparedness, toxins of concern in wildfire smoke. budget, wildfires, smoke, pollution, public Despite provincial communication health, Alberta. Our analysis focused on efforts, most Albertan public do not strategies, communication, know the health severity of wildfire and operation. smoke pollutants. Increased education Results: The latest federal budget will enable individuals to modify their showed commitment to work with behaviour to minimize their risk of provinces and territories to set stronger inhaling wildfire smoke. air quality standards, monitor emissions, and provide incentives for investments Research Advisor: Dr. Sandra Song
63 JACLYN REPCHUK STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
FUNCTIONALIZATION OF SILICON QUANTUM DOTS WITH FERROCENYL ALKENE LIGANDS
Silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) are non- corresponding alkene-terminated ferrocene toxic quantum dots with size- and derivative. Characterization included TEM and ligand-dependent optical and electronic IR studies but was more heavily focused on PL properties.1 The preparation of hydride- Spectroscopy. The PL properties of the SiNCs terminated SiNCs developed by the were significantly affected by the presence of Veinot Group at the University of Alberta the ferrocene molecule.2 The presence of is based on the thermal processing of ferrocene at the surface effectively quenches hydrogen silsesquioxane under a reducing the UV excitation PL pathway, however, environment.1 Functionalization of the SiNCs excitation into the visible absorption band of with a variety of ligands imparts both stability the surface ferrocene (ca. 510 nm) results in and optical tunability. For example, UV the return of photoluminescence at ca. 740 excitation (ca. 340 nm) of alkyl-terminated nm. This effect of surface ferrocene on the 3 nm SiNCs results in photoluminescence PL properties of the SiNCs is under current centered near 700 nm. Ferrocene, an investigation. organometallic compound, is well-known for both its stability and redox activity. The purpose of this study was to combine the photoluminescent (PL) properties of SiNCs with the redox properties of ferrocene via co-functionalization with alkene-terminated ferrocene derivatives (Figure 1). Initial work focused on the synthesis of alkene-terminated ferrocene derivatives and their subsequent characterization via a variety of spectroscopic techniques (e.g. IR, NMR, UV-Visible). Hydride-terminated 3 nm diameter SiNCs were then co-functionalized Figure 1. Co-functionalization of silicon nanocrystal with a mixture of 1-dodence and the with 1-dodecene/alkene-terminated ferrocene.
Research Advisor: Dr. John Washington and Dr. Jon G.C. Veinot (U of A)
64 KAYLA SLOMAN STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF CROSS-CONJUGATED TRIENONES
Cross-conjugated trienones serve and aldol reaction/dehydrations. The as potential substrates for 8π substrates were then converted to electrocyclizations when converted to their corresponding alcohols to test for alcohols or treated with anionic silicon conditions for the electrocyclization. reagents. Synthesis of these cross- conjugated trienones was accomplished Research Advisor: Dr. Owen Scadeng via sequential aldol condensations
65 JADE ROY-SPENCER STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DANIKA DEIBERT STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES MADELEINE WIEBE STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DR. KATHIE-ANNE WALTERS SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST (INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY)
CHARACTERIZATION OF POTENTIAL VIRULENCE GENES IN STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE
The 1918 influenza pandemic killed function of the genes’ product, potential approximately 50 million people globally, target genes for CRISPR knockout were with secondary bacterial pneumonia proposed for the purpose of assessing believed to be the prominent cause the knockout effects on bacterial of death. The most common bacterial virulence. This work will contribute to pathogen isolated from fatal cases was the understanding the of enhanced Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), which pathophysiology of SP coinfection has been found to have lethal synergism with influenza, therefore opening new during influenza coinfection. The current research directions and treatment understanding of how the bacterial options. virulence factors enhance pathology during coinfection is incomplete. Research Advisor: Due to the inevitable reoccurrence Dr. Deborah Hemmerling of an influenza pandemic, a detailed understanding of the coinfection synergism is essential to minimizing or preventing mass mortality. Preferentially upregulated genes in the bacterial genome during coinfection were obtained. Using bioinformatics, those that were undefined were characterized in terms of size, location within the genome, and protein function. Based on the
66 KASSIDY TURCOTTE STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
GREEN WITTIG REACTIONS AND ISOMERIC RATIOS
An undergraduate lab was developed Wittig reagent was synthesized as it to introduce students to the use of NMR showed compatibility with aqueous integration techniques to determine reaction conditions, making the process isomeric ratios. The Wittig reaction was Green. A series of aromatic aldehydes identified as an appropriate reaction as were tested to find the most appropriate it is known to regularly produce isomeric substrates for NMR integration. ratios that are not 1:1, while producing easy to view NMR signals. A carbonyl Research Advisor: Dr. Owen Scadeng
67 JOSE VILLANUEVA STUDENT, CHEMISTRY
1,3,6- TRIENE ELECTROCYCLIZATION
1,3,6-Trienes serve as potential Synthesis of o-styryl-(1-allylsiloxy) substrates for 7-carbon-8π- benzene and their reactions are electrocyclizations. By substituting presented. the 5 position with alkoxy substituents and using aromatic rings as one of the Research Advisor: Dr. Owen Scadeng alkenes, the regiochemical outcome of the cyclization can be readily predicted and form synthetically useful products.
68 DR. JOHN WALSH SESSIONAL INSTRUCTOR, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CRAIG RICHTER PROFESSOR, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES BIO 207 STUDENTS 2017/2018 CITY OF EDMONTON PEST MANAGEMENT LAB
CONDUCTING RESEARCH WITHIN THE INSTRUCTIONAL LABORATORY SETTING: DNA BARCODE BASED IDENTIFICATION OF ENGRAVER BARK BEETLES (IPS SPECIES) IN EDMONTON CANADA
DNA barcoding refers to the use of a Over the 2017-2018 year, the sequence (DNA barcode) for the purpose Department of Biological and of species identification. The barcode Environmental Sciences has been must be a region of sequence conserved running a barcoding project within its across species, but variable enough Molecular Genetics course (BIO 207). between species that it acts as a unique Samples were obtained from The City identifier. To date, barcode sequences for of Edmonton’s Pest Management Lab, 189, 000 species have been uploaded to which conducts surveillance programs the Barcode of Life Database. to monitor for the presence of economic and environmentally significant pests. An advantage of DNA barcoding Engraver bark beetles (Ips species) is that it can be performed by non- that were collected as part of the taxonomists; opening the door on monitoring program were processed the scientific enterprise aiming to by the students and successful PCR understanding global biodiversity. amplifications of the COI region were Basic DNA isolation and the cost of sent for sequencing. Preliminary sequencing (dollars/reaction) is all that analysis suggests that DNA barcode is required. Instructional labs are well based identification performed by suited to barcoding projects because students could significantly contribute the resources are found together with a to our understanding of this group of ready-made cohort of “citizen scientists”. cryptic but impactful species in the In this way, teaching laboratories become Edmonton region. vehicles for research and students are promoted past demonstration science to Research Advisor: become part of the research community. Dr. Deborah Hemmerling
69 MADELEINE WIEBE STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DANIKA DEIBERT STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
JADE ROY-SPENCER STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DR. KATHIE-ANNE WALTERS SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST (INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY)
GENOMIC ANALYSIS OF UPREGULATED STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE GENES AS SEEN IN A COINFECTION WITH 1918 H1N1 AND STRATEGIES OF GENE KNOCKOUT USING THE CRISPR/CAS9 SYSTEM.
Nearly 50 million people died during was conducted on uncharacterized the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic. bacterial genes to determine potential However, there is evidence that the main roles in the coinfection, and previous cause of death was not viral infection, but research was collected to support a secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae the hypothesized roles of elements infection. Post-mortem samples of human of interest. Phase 2 will consist of lung tissue reveal mass thrombosis and researching procedures and techniques inflammation of the lungs. When the to knockout uncharacterized genes coinfection was simulated in mice by of interest and successfully transform Walters et al., similar lung pathology S. pneumoniae. Techniques under was observed, which was significantly consideration include the CRISPER/Cas 9 more pronounced than results seen in system. This project will continue in late mice solely infected with S. pneumoniae 2018 with bacterial transformation and (2016). There is also preliminary evidence the eventual reproduction of the 2016 of a dysfunctional immune response Walters experiment to determine if genes during the coinfection, including an of interest have a specific role in the over-calling to neutrophils. A number of coinfection. highly expressed bacterial genes were identified for significant days of the coinfection and these expression levels are not seen in isolated S. pneumoniae infections. This study examined the Research Advisor: upregulation of uncharacterized bacterial Dr. Deborah Hemmerling genes observed by Walters et al. (2016) to determine potential mechanisms of the coinfection. In Phase 1, bioinformatics
70 RYLEIGH-RAYE WOLFE STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
EFFECT OF WILDFIRES ON MOBILIZATION OF HEAVY METALS IN ALBERTA’S PEATLAND BOREAL FOREST.
Numerous studies in Europe and unburned peatland, soil samples were the US have found increased metal collected from the organic and the clay concentrations in soils after forest fires, layer. Concentration of dissolved heavy however such type of studies in Canada’s metals (cadmium, copper, manganese, peatland ecosystems has been rare. lead) in the samples were measured With increasing frequency of wildfires using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. in the peatland boreal forest over the Concentrations of cadmium, copper last decades, there is an urgent need and lead were not detectable, therefore in studying the movement of harmful further statistical analyses focused on metals in peatlands because they manganese. Higher, and statistically are an important pathway to aquatic significant, concentrations of manganese ecosystems. Highly mobile dissolved were found in the burned peatland toxic metals within ash and soil can be compared to the unburned. It was also transported to nearby water sources found that a large portion of the total through erosion and storm run-off. soluble manganese was adsorbed to the This can directly affect water quality, soil particles. Acidification allowed for threatening the health of humans and release of these metals thus increasing other organisms. We conducted a field the concentration of manganese study near Fort McMurray, Alberta detected. In all, wild fires do have that represents a snapshot of metal potential to increase metal concentration movement between vegetation and the (manganese) and mobilization, especially soil after a wildfire event. Two sampling in acidic conditions. fields were selected to represent metal mobilization in a forested peatland Research Advisor: Dr. Xin Chen before and after the 2016 Horse River Fire. From each the burned and
71 OWEN WOYCENKO STUDENT, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
EVALUATING THE UNIQUENESS OF RNA THERMOSENSORS BY COMPUTATIONALLY MODELING THE DEGREE OF UNFOLDING AT THE SHINE-DALGARNO SEQUENCE OF THE LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES–ENCODED VIRULENCE FACTOR PRFA
RNA thermosensors (RNATs) are cis- used a program to generate an unbiased acting structural elements found in statistical sample of suboptimal RNA prokaryotic mRNAs which mediate structures from the Boltzmann ensemble differential gene expression by unfolding (RNAsubopt, n=1000). I calculated the with respect to temperature elevation. fraction of structures in this sample that Within RNATs, the conserved Shine- were single-stranded at the SD across Dalgarno (SD) sequence is masked by the temperature interval 10-60°C. intramolecular base-paring. Unfolding at To evaluate the validity of this approach, this subsequence exposes residues for I measured how this fraction changed ribosome binding, and thereby increases depending on the selected sequence translation initiation efficiency. Regulation length, the selected SD subsequence of RNAT-containing transcripts prevents length, and the stability of base-pairs superfluous protein production outside within the SD. I then sampled transcripts host organisms. The gene prfA, which randomly from Escherichia coli str. K12 encodes the master transcriptional (n=50) to statistically compare calculated activator of the Listeria monocytogenes fold changes to that of the prfA RNAT virulence regulon, is RNAT-regulated. (20 versus 50°C). Fold change in SD RNAT sequences are not conserved openness was not a good predictor around the SD, therefore searches for of thermosensing (n=33, p=0.852). novel RNATs in virulence-associated Collectively, these results show that transcripts require biophysical different biophysical models are required parameters, yet to be determined. to distinguish RNATs as unique structural Considering this, I hypothesize that elements. the degree of unfolding at the SD uniquely distinguishes RNAT-containing Research Advisor: Dr. Carla C. Salvado transcripts. To test this hypothesis, I
72 For Additional Information on the Office of Research contact: Valerie Henitiuk Vice-President Academic & Provost [email protected] Or Lainna ElJabi, MA Research Officer [email protected] 780 479 9215
73 concordia.ab.ca
74